If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)"
Single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill
from the album It Was Written
Released	June 4, 1996
Format	CD single
Recorded	1995
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:42
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Nasir Jones Jean-Claude Olivier Kurtis Walker Samuel Barnes
Producer(s)	Trackmasters Rashad Smith]
Nas singles chronology
"One Love" (1994) "'If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (1996) "Street Dreams" (1996) Lauryn Hill singles chronology "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (1996) "All My Time" (1997)
It Was Written track listing "Live Nigga Rap" (13) "'If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" (14) "Silent Murder" (15)

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" is a single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill. It is based on the 1985 hit of the same name by rapper Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. The single was Nas's first Top 20 R&B hit, and was also nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Lauryn Hill's verse interpolates the song "Walk Right Up To The Sun" by The Delfonics. The song's lyrics feature Nas discussing the various things he would do if he "ruled the world and everything in it". It is considered one of the best rap songs ever by many publications. Including being ranked 88 on XXL's Best Songs of the 90's.

"If I Ruled the World", bolstered by a high-budget music video directed by Hype Williams, became Nas's first single to gain mainstream notice. The single reached number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and number 15 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.

Single track listing

US 12" Vinyl

A-Side

1. "If I Ruled the World" (Main Mix) (4:42)
2. "If I Ruled the World" (Instrumental) (4:34)

B-Side

1. "If I Ruled the World" (Clean Mix) (4:42)
2. "If I Ruled the World" (A Cappella) (4:42)

Europe Maxi-CD (COL 663296 2)

1. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Main Mix)" (4:45)
2. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Instrumental)" (4:36)
3. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Clean Mix)" (4:45)
4. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (A Cappella)" (4:42)

Europe CD (COL 663296 1)

1. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Main Mix)"
2. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Instrumental)"

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[1]	100
scope="row"	Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2]	30
scope="row"	Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3]	21
scope="row"	Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[4]	11
scope="row"	France (SNEP)[5]	4
scope="row"	Germany (Official German Charts)[6]	4
scope="row"	Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7]	9
scope="row"	New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8]	2
scope="row"	Norway (VG-lista)[9]	5
scope="row"	Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10]	3
scope="row"	Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11]	7
scope="row"	UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12]	12
scope="row"	US Billboard Hot 100[13]	53
scope="row"	US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14]	17
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[15]	15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
France (SNEP)[16]	Gold	250,000
Germany (BVMI)[17]	Gold	250,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
2. "Austriancharts.at – Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
3. "Ultratop.be – Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
4. "Ultratop.be – Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
5. "Lescharts.com – Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
6. "Musicline.de – Nas Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved October 2, 2012.
8. "Charts.org.nz – Nas – If I Ruled The World". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
9. "Norwegiancharts.com – Nas – If I Ruled The World". VG-lista. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
10. "Swedishcharts.com – Nas – If I Ruled The World". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
11. "Swisscharts.com – Nas – If I Ruled The World". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
12. "Archive Chart: 1996-08-17" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
13. "Nas – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Nas. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
14. "Nas – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Nas. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
15. "Nas – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
16. "French single certifications – Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
17. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Nas; 'If I Ruled The World')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 30, 2013.

External links

• "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" music video on MTV.com (Windows Media format)
• Full lyrics of the song on MetroLyrics